Moses as a Baby

We narrate to you the story of Moses and Pharaoh in truth, for people who believe.

28:3We narrate unto thee (somewhat) of the story of Moses and Pharaoh with truth, for folk who believe.

Pharaoh exalted himself in the land, dividing its people into factions. He oppressed one group, slaughtering their sons while sparing their daughters. He was truly a corrupter.

28:4Lo! Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Lo! he was of those who work corruption.

But We willed to favour those who were oppressed, to make them leaders, and to make them inheritors.

28:5And We desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors,

And to establish them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their troops the very thing they feared.

28:6And to establish them in the earth, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts that which they feared from them.

We inspired the mother of Moses: “Nurse him, but when you fear for him, cast him into the river. Do not fear or grieve, We will return him to you and make him one of the messengers.”

28:7And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when thou fearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Lo! We shall bring him back unto thee and shall make him (one) of Our messengers.

Pharaoh’s household picked him up, unaware that he would become their enemy and a source of sorrow. Pharaoh, Haman, and their troops were sinners.

28:8And the family of Pharaoh took him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a sorrow, Lo! Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were ever sinning.

Pharaoh’s wife said, “A delight for my eyes and yours, do not kill him. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” But they did not foresee.

28:9And the wife of Pharaoh said: (He will be) a consolation for me and for thee. Kill him not. Peradventure he may be of use to us, or we may choose him for a son. And they perceived not.

The heart of Moses’ mother became empty. She was about to reveal the truth, had We not strengthened her heart so she would remain faithful.

28:10And the heart of the mother of Moses became void, and she would have betrayed him if We had not fortified her heart, that she might be of the believers.

She said to his sister, “Follow him.” So, she watched him from afar, while they were unaware.

28:11And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from afar, and they perceived not.

We had already forbidden him from nursing. So she said, “Shall I tell you of a family who can care for him and raise him with kindness?”

28:12And We had before forbidden foster-mothers for him, so she said: Shall I show you a household who will rear him for you and take care of him?

Thus, We returned him to his mother, so she would be comforted and not grieve, and so she would know that Allah’s promise is true. But most of them do not know.

28:13So We restored him to his mother that she might be comforted and not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of them know not.

When he reached maturity and strength, We granted him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the righteous.

28:14And when he reached his full strength and was ripe, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the good.